Electoral College
Definition
The Electoral College is a process established by the United States Constitution for electing the president and vice president, where citizens vote for electors pledged to cast their ballots for particular candidates.
Related terms
Popular Vote: The tally of each individual's vote within a given geographic area.
Swing State/Battleground State: A state in which no single candidate or party has overwhelming support, making it highly competitive in presidential elections.
Winner-take-all System: An electoral system where whoever gets most votes wins all electoral votes from that state.
"Electoral College" appears in:
Subjects (2)
AP US History
Intro to Political Science
Study guides (3)
AP US Government - 1.5 Ratification of the U.S. Constitution
AP US Government - 1.9 Federalism in Action
AP US Government - 5.8 Electing a President
Additional resources (1)
AP US Government - 5.5 Third-Party Politics
Practice Questions (14)
Who casts the official vote for president and vice president in the Electoral College?
What is the total number of electors in the Electoral College?
What is the purpose of the Electoral College?
The number of electoral votes each state has in the Electoral College is determined by:
Which document established the process of electing a president through the Electoral College?
What does the concept of "winner-takes-all" in the Electoral College mean?
If no candidate receives a majority of electoral votes in the Electoral College, how is the election of the president is determined?
What is the role of the Vice President in the Electoral College?
The process of electing a president through the Electoral College allows for:
What is the total number of electors in the Electoral College equal to?
What is the purpose of the Electoral College?
What is the reason behind the continuous use of the Electoral College in US Presidential Elections?
Why has the Electoral College system continued in U.S. presidential elections?
Why has the Electoral College persisted despite criticisms that it doesn't accurately represent the popular vote?
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About Us
About Fiveable
Blog
Careers
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Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
CCPA Privacy Policy
Resources
Cram Mode
AP Score Calculators
Study Guides
Practice Quizzes
Glossary
Cram Events
Merch Shop
Crisis Text Line
Help Center
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.